Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put has delivered a candid assessment of his team’s performance following their 3–1 defeat to Tunisia in the opening Group C match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, admitting that a lack of aggression cost his side dearly.
The loss has left Uganda under early pressure, with the Belgian tactician now urging his players to respond quickly as focus shifts to a decisive East African derby against Tanzania.
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Uganda Cranes head coach Paul Put blames lack of aggression
Speaking after the match, Put did not shy away from criticising his team’s approach, pointing out that Uganda failed to match Tunisia’s intensity and physicality.
“We showed them too much respect. We know they are good at set pieces. This is a bad start. I think we were not aggressive enough,” Put said, reflecting on a performance that left the Cranes chasing the game for long spells.
Tunisia asserted control early, opening the scoring inside the first 10 minutes through Ellyes Skhiri before Elias Achouri added two more goals to put the North Africans firmly in charge.
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Uganda struggled to cope with Tunisia’s dominance in midfield and their efficiency from dead-ball situations, issues that Put highlighted in his post-match analysis. Denis Omedi’s late goal offered brief hope, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation.
Put was particularly concerned by Uganda’s inability to sustain pressure and win key battles across the pitch.
“If you play AFCON, you need to win the duels. We only had about 25 minutes of the game, but the rest we were on the back foot. That is not enough at this level” he said, underlining the physical demands required to compete at Africa’s biggest tournament.
Despite the disappointment, the Uganda coach was quick to turn attention to what lies ahead. With Tunisia and Nigeria both seen as group favourites, the Cranes now face a must-win situation in their next fixture.
“We know what we have to do in our next game. We will be playing under pressure. A draw will not be enough. You now need to win your next game to be in a position to finish second or third,” Put stated.
Uganda shift focus to crucial Tanzania clash
Uganda will now shift their focus to their second match against Tanzania, who also come into the East African derby searching for redemption after a narrow 2–1 loss to Nigeria on Saturday 27th.
The clash between the regional rivals is expected to be fiercely contested, with both sides aware that defeat would severely dent their chances of progressing from the group.
Tanzania’s spirited display against Nigeria has shown they are capable of troubling any opponent, making the derby a significant test for Uganda.
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For the Cranes, the match presents an opportunity to correct the mistakes exposed against Tunisia, particularly in terms of intensity, concentration, and game management.
Put remains optimistic that his side can respond positively.
“We will analyse the game and identify what we did wrong and what can be done better. I do believe we can bounce back,” he concluded.
As pressure mounts, the East African Derby could define Uganda’s AFCON campaign. A strong response would not only revive their qualification hopes but also restore belief within the squad, while anything less could spell an early exit from the tournament.